Apple Removes Controversial Dating Apps Tea and TeaOnHer from App Store

The controversial dating apps Tea and TeaOnHer have been removed from the Apple App Store due to serious violations regarding user privacy and content moderation. This decision was first reported by Appfigures, an app store intelligence provider, indicating the apps were taken down on Tuesday across all markets. However, both remain available on Google Play.

Reasons Behind App Removal

Apple confirmed the removal of Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer, citing multiple complaints from users. Notably, these complaints involved minors’ personal information being shared on the platforms. Despite Apple’s attempts to notify the app developers about these issues, they were not addressed.

Violations of App Review Guidelines

The removal was based on breaches of Apple’s App Review Guidelines, particularly:

• Rule 1.2: Apps must offer reporting and blocking features for user-generated content.
• Rule 5.1.2: Apps cannot use or disclose personal information without user consent.
• Rule 5.6: A high volume of user complaints and negative reviews breaches Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.

Background of the Apps

Both apps gained significant attention after going viral. Tea, launched in 2023, was designed as a dating safety platform for women. It allowed users to share details about men they encountered on dating platforms, including personal data and opinions categorized as “green” or “red flags.” However, many men criticized the app, calling it an invasion of privacy and questioning its potential for defamation.

The situation worsened when Tea suffered a data breach, where hackers accessed 72,000 private images, including 3,000 selfies and government IDs. This incident raised further concerns about user security.

Competition and Current Status

Following Tea, another app, TeaOnHer, was launched with a similar concept to allow men to discuss women in a like manner. Unfortunately, it also faced significant security vulnerabilities, exposing users’ personal data, including sensitive identification information.

App Performance Statistics

Despite the removal from Apple’s platform, similar apps are gaining popularity. An emerging app, TeaOnHer and Him – Overheard, has seen a substantial increase in downloads, now totaling 354,000, climbing from 90th to 27th place in the Overall Top App Charts.